Hi everybody! Exciting times here at Presents of Love! The weather has been absolutely delightful here in Portland this week. We've been having cool and crisp mornings with gorgeous sunshine in the afternoon. My favorite weather during my favorite season! So.... I decided to celebrate this joyful feeling by hosting a JOYFUL event:
​a Fabulous Friday in Fall ART sale!

This coming Friday 9/28/18 (in two days...eek!), I'll be offering all my handmade artwork as well as stained glass mosaic bird feeders and art prints for sale. The art sale will be from 5pm-7:30pm in Portland, Oregon. For questions and specific location, please contact me at marieke@presentsoflove.com.

This art sale is just one evening only so if you're local, this is your chance to shop for meaningful, handmade gifts for your friend's birthday or do some early holiday shopping before life gets really crazy. If you're not local, most of my artwork can be shipped worldwide so please check out my etsy shop.

Last night was very special. After working on this large mosaic for a small eternity, my sweet hubby helped me on the final stage: hanging it up! I can't tell you how gratifying it was to see my artwork hanging up on our front porch... complete! After months of painting the frame, cutting glass (and perhaps my fingers at times...ouch!), arranging each individual piece, attempting to glue the pieces without getting glue in my hair and even getting my dad involved in the muddy process of grouting during their visit... it is complete! A visual sign that baby steps will eventually get us there!

I took this photo as the sun was almost going down and there was barely any sunlight to shine through the colored stained glass but it didn't matter! Because it's about celebrating the moment! And we live in Oregon. We don't really have any light for a good part of the year so there. :0)

While there are plenty of flaws in the artwork for the critical eye, this is my hope: that people who see my mosaic will simply be reminded of the beauty of nature and be inspired to cherish the simple joys in life. May all who walk past our home, be lifted up like a hummingbird in flight. I know that all sounds a bit sentimental (which I try to avoid most days because you know, I'm Dutch) but that's my hope.

Some of you may not know that in addition to creating cute illustrations for my online shop, I also create stained glass mosaic artwork with simple, modern designs in pretty colors. Well, I have some exciting news to share! ​

This handmade stained glass mosaic bird feeder will be available this weekend at Heirloom Roses.

My mosaic artwork will now be sold at the gift cottage at Heirloom Roses, a family owned business known for growing the most beautiful “own root” roses. What you may not know is that you are welcome to visit their seven acres of gardens which are open to the public, free of charge. They have thousands of beautiful, fragrant roses in bloom from May through October. ​What you don't want to miss out on this weekend? The gift shop at Heirloom Roses will be opening for Valentine’s Day weekend this year. At the cute cottage where the gift shop is located, you will find a variety of fabulous gifts for home and garden. You can look forward to spring, start planning your garden and enjoy a fun weekend outing with your Valentine!

Here is the display of my handmade mosaic bird feeders and rocks next to Stephanie Burgess' beautiful artwork.

You will find my mosaic artwork on high quality cedar bird feeders as well as beautiful river rocks which you can display as home decorations or use as paper weights indoor. They would also look lovely in a planter or in the garden outdoor. I put a lot of attention and care into each one of my handmade mosaics - they make wonderful gifts!

Heirloom Roses is located just 25 miles south of Portland in the Willamette Valley. The address is 24062 Riverside Dr. NE in St. Paul, Oregon. They will be opening this Friday February 12th through Sunday February 14th for Valentine’s Day weekend. After this weekend, they will reopen for the season starting on Saturday February 27th.

​I hope you have a chance to visit Heirloom Roses this weekend! What plans are you making for your garden? Do you love to feed birds? I would love to hear in the comments. Thank you!